OUTWARD TELEGRAM
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Cypher telegram to Sir R. Craigie, (Tokyo).
Foreign Office, April 24th, 1940. 1.00.a.m.
No. 339.
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Despatch No. 104 from Governor of Hongkong to Colonial
8 Office of the 27th February: attacks on Hongkong fishing
craft].
I assume that you brought these cases to the notice of the Japanese Government.
2.
Statement that incidents on 21st January occurred in British waters rests solely on the evidence of Chinese boat- man which is admittedly inconclusive, while incident off Kit Shek was in Chinese waters. Nevertheless these attacks are being made on vessels of Hongkong registry engaged in local trade or in catching fish for the Hongkong markets, and it is as well that the Japanese Government should realize that we resent such attacks. Moreover many of the incidents bear marks of personal "racketeering" which doubtless accounts to some extent for their continuance in spite of improvements in Anglo- Japanese relations.
3. While appreciating reason given in your despatch No. 85 to the Governor of Hongkong for withholding strong representations I nevertheless hope that you will represent to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs that these attacks will not conduce to better relations either with the Government of Hongkong or His Majesty Government and arrange for the Naval Attaché to do the same at
the Ministry of Marine.
Repeated to Shangahi No. 387 and Hongkong No. 23 (Hong please inform Commodore.
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